My Dearest Braden,

There are so many things that I want to tell you and even more questions that I long to ask, but finding the right words has been a bit of a challenge for me. So, I’ll start by telling you that not a single day has passed that I have not thought about you and wondered how you are. My love for you is never ending and my prayers for you have never ceased. I believe you were brought into my life because of a greater plan and I can tell you, that I now fully understand why.

From the first moment I held you in my arms I knew my life would never be the same. I stared at you for hours and whispered to you all of my hopes and dreams for your future. I explained to you exactly why I made my decision to place you for adoption, and I prayed that you would one day understand. I must have told you I loved you a million times and cried a million tears. It hurt so bad to let you go, but I knew that it was best for you.

Even though our time together has been very brief, I have been blessed to have the opportunity to watch you grow up from a distance over the years. Choosing a family for you was the most difficult decision I have ever made, but I knew in my heart that you deserved so much more than I was able to give you. Your parents have been a blessing to me and have continued to reassure me through their actions that I made the right choice for you. I want you to know how honored I am to be your birth mother and how proud I am of the amazing young man you’re growing up to be.

I hope that this letter finds you in good health and good spirits. I hope that you have had a wonderful life and that your adoption story is something you are proud of. I want you to know that I will be here if you ever want to meet again, but I will truly understand if you do not. Whether we meet again here on earth or up in heaven, I hope you know that you are always in my heart and on my mind and I will love you forever…more than words can express. I heard a birthmother once say that she finished every letter to her child by saying, “I think about you every day and pray for you every night.” So sweetheart, I think that’s how I will finish this letter…